World

New footage shown at Kirk hearing shows man on rooftop near shooting scene

BBC World · 2026-07-07

AI SUMMARY

• What happened: New surveillance footage was presented at the preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk, showing a man believed to be Robinson running across a rooftop after the incident. • Why it matters: The footage is crucial for the prosecution as it aims to establish Robinson's presence at the scene and support the charges against him, including aggravated murder, while the defense seeks to challenge the evidence and the possibility of the death penalty. • What to watch next: The preliminary hearing will continue throughout the week, with the judge determining whether there is sufficient evidence for Robinson to stand trial.

Figure caption, Watch: New video shows man believed to be Tyler Robinson before Charlie Kirk shootingBySheila FlynnPublished7 July 2026, 18:44 BSTUpdated 13 minutes agoProsecutors have released new surveillance footage that they say shows the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk running across a rooftop after last year's fatal shooting.The video, played on the second day of a preliminary hearing for accused Tyler Robinson in a Utah court, also appears to show the suspect jumping off the roof while holding an object.Robinson, 23, is accused of fatally shooting Kirk on 10 September 2025 as the conservative activist addressed an audience on the campus of Utah Valley University. The preliminary hearing, which is expected to continue all week, will determine whether there is sufficient evidence for Robinson to stand trial. Image source, ReutersImage caption, Tyler Robinson (file picture)Robinson faces multiple charges, including aggravated murder in connection with the shooting. He has not yet entered a plea, and his lawyers have objected to much of the video evidence.Prosecutors in the case are seeking the death penalty.Prosecution witness David Hull, Utah's State Bureau of Investigation's lead investigator on the case, walked the court through the security footage on Tuesday.The footage shows the man, allegedly Robinson, appeared repeatedly on campus on the day of the killing, Hull testified. Erika Kirk comes face-to-face in court with husband's alleged killer Published11 hours agoHull said that surveillance footage showed Robinson's vehicle entering a campus parking garage, before a man wearing a maroon shirt, Converse shoes and grey or olive shorts was seen walking across campus. The same man was later seen returning to campus, buying food from Chick-fil-A and heading into a wooded area near the university, Hull said.When he reappeared on campus, around 90 minutes before the shooting, the man was wearing different clothes and seemingly walking with a limp, according to the witness.Footage then showed the suspect making his way to the Losee Building on the campus and rolling over a railing onto the rooftop.Shortly after the fatal shot rang out, the same man can be seen running across the roof, dropping down with an unknown object in his hands and making his way off campus, Hull testified.A rifle was later recovered "in the wooded area where we believe Mr Robinson entered the wooded area", Hull told the court.The agent also said that, in the early hours of 11 September - while a manhunt for Kirk's killer was underway - an officer near campus had made contact with Robinson and noted his licence plate.Image source, ReutersImage caption, Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at a university event on 10 September 2025The defence team, led by attorney Kathy Nester, has sought to exclude much of the evidence and have the death penalty taken off the table. Upon cross-examination from Nester on Tuesday, Hull admitted that at least one other weapon had been found on campus on the day of the shooting. Hull also said no shell casings were discovered on the rooftop near a suspected "sniper pad" - an impression in gravel discovered by another officer which appeared to indicate where a shooter had lain "prone", with a direct line of sight to where Kirk had been speaking. Nester also said some witnesses had described a different suspect on the rooftop, while a few others interviewed had claimed a bald man had been driving the vehicle alleged to be Robinson's in security footage shown on Monday.Robinson's defence team objected repeatedly during the first two days of the preliminary hearing to video exhibits and different testimony on grounds including hearsay. They argued that footage had been edited, and pointed out that those who had originally filmed the footage were not on the stand.Judge Graf will not make a determination of guilt or innocence but will weigh whether the prosecution has presented strong enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial.Related topicsUnited StatesMore on this storyAt CrimeCon true crime obsessives come face-to-face with real lossPublished21 JuneCowboys, fighter jets and US Border Patrol - inside Trump's big recruitment drivePublished2 days ago

Source: BBC World
RELATED NEWS

More Stories

All News
World

Nasdaq vs Dow: How are the key indices different as SpaceX joins one?

• What happened: SpaceX officially joined the Nasdaq-100 index on July 7, 2026, shortly after its initial public offering, facilitated by a waiver of the usual ...

World

Venezuela buries earthquake victims as death toll reaches 3,535

• What happened: Mass burials have begun in La Guaira, Venezuela, for victims of twin earthquakes, with the death toll now at 3,535 and over 30,000 people still...

World

Pro-Palestine MEP Rima Hassan arrives at trial for ‘glorifying terrorism’

• What happened: French MEP Rima Hassan is on trial for allegedly glorifying terrorism through a social media post referencing the 1972 attack on Israel’s main ...

World

Prolonged hospitalisation of US Republican Mitch McConnell raises questions

• What happened: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been hospitalized since June 14, 2026, raising concerns about his ability to return to work and fulf...

World

Canadian province sues OpenAI over alleged ChatGPT-linked shooting warnings

• What happened: The Canadian province of British Columbia is suing OpenAI, alleging the company failed to alert police about violent ChatGPT conversations link...

World

Trump lashes out at NATO as first day of summit wraps in Turkiye

• What happened: US President Donald Trump expressed disappointment with NATO during the first day of the summit in Turkiye, criticizing European allies for the...